Cairo will listen if Peres is carrying objective proposals
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 7/14/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher underlined Egypt's stand rejecting "the aggressive Israeli policies," noting Israel is responsible for the violence by its demolition of Palestinians' houses and rendering their residents homeless.

Maher said his main question to Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres during their meeting Sunday in Cairo will be whether he carries during this visit pledges he intends to implement or he just play for time and wants to speak about unimplelmentable things.

In statements he gave following his return earlier Friday morning from Lusaka, where he led Egypt's delegation to the African summit meetings, Maher pointed out that resistance is a reaction to occupation.

Maher further accused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of seeking to fuel the fires of frustration and despondency, adding Sharon wants to throw the region into a vicious circle of violence.

Commenting on Sharon's statements in which he announced his rejection of withdrawing from Syrian Golan Heights and continuing settlement building, Maher said: "We do not pause at the Israeli statements. What matters is the practices and policies adopted," adding "If Peres wanted to come to Egypt, maybe he has something new, but we do not have anything new. We insist on our stance."

As regards Sharon's statements, Maher said we listen a lot to these statements. It is not necessarily that these statements would take effect, as they are not the only players in the game.

"There are international powers which are bothered with the Israeli practices endangering the whole region," he added.

"Violence comes from Israel which razes Palestinian houses to the ground at midnight and forces their residents out," Maher said.

This is the real violence, he added, but the Palestinians are just responding to the Israeli occupation practices.

"We have to pay no heed to Sharon's statements as we see that he visited France and Italy and listened to opinions opposing his policies," Maher explained.

Also, the US has stressed its refusal of the Israeli policies of demolishing houses and others, he said, adding that the international pressures and Egypt's strong stance were the cause behind Peres's visit to Egypt.

Concerning Peres's backtracking on his pledges he made during his visit to Egypt on April 29, Maher explained that this issue would be the first question Peres will be asked during his projected visit to Egypt.

Previous Stories:
  Peres to visit Egypt   (7/11/2001)
  Islamic sovereignty over Al Haram al Sharif, not to be relinquished   (7/10/2001)
  Maher slams Israeli assassination policy; Egypt and Libya to continue contact   (7/7/2001)

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